Coplay's 150th birthday may be four years away but it's already time to start planning the celebration.

Steve Burker, who chairs Coplay Community Days, has agreed to serve as chairperson of the 150th, borough council announced at its meeting Feb. 3.

Burker told The Press Feb. 5 that council President Lou Bodish has been getting numerous inquiries from people wanting to know when planning will begin for the 150th. Bodish and Councilman Charles Sodl will assist Burker with planning the birthday bash, Burker said.

Calling these "exciting times," Burker said he is looking for ideas, suggestions and people interested in helping.

Noting the borough is working to complete projects at Balliet Stadium and Salyor Field as well as the civic plaza, he said the borough hopes to have these projects completed in time for the 150th anniversary.

The first committee meetings are set to take place in May, he said.

"It will take the full cooperation of every business and organization and the people of Coplay and its neighbors to make this event full of memories everyone will cherish for a lifetime," Burker said.

People still talk about the 100th anniversary celebration in 1969. Burker said he hopes people will still talk about the 150th long after it's over.

"For this to be a success, every person in Coplay and our neighbors will play an important role," Burker said. The idea is to create an event that people will never forget.

Burker is tentatively planning a long celebration with many different events. It will begin April 7, which is the day the borough was officially incorporated in 1869. Community Days in August will be expanded to a week for the anniversary and, Burker hopes, organizations will take on the task of running other events to celebrate.

During the 100th, for example, organizations formed "chapters" which ran events and dressed according to a theme. Burker hopes to get chapters revived for the 150th.

"I plan on getting people that were involved with the 100th, with their experitise, involved in the 150th," he said.

Anyone interested in being involved in the 150th anniversary celebration, should call Burker at 610-703-8487.